A method of making a medical implant is provided by electrospinning a polymer solution to form a preform around a mandrel. The formed preform distinguishes an inner surface and an outer surface. The formed preform is removed from the mandrel and flipped inside-out resulting in the inner surface of the formed preform becoming the outer surface of the inside-out flipped preform, and the outer surface of the formed preform becoming the inner surface of the inside-out flipped preform. At least part of the inside-out flipped preform forms the medical implant such as e.g. an artificial heart valve, an artificial leaflet, an artificial graft, or an artificial vessel. The products made according to the method of this invention greatly improve the performance and durability of the medical implant.

A polyphenylene sulfide resin composition including (a) 25% to 75% by weight of a base resin; (b) 0.1% to 10% by weight of a laser direct structuring (LDS) additive; (c) 0.1% to 5% by weight of a plating seed generation promoter; (d) 10% to 60% by weight of a glass fiber; and (e) 0% to 40% by weight of a mineral filler, based on a total weight of the polyphenylene sulfide resin composition. The base resin includes 95% by weight or more of a polyphenylene sulfide resin based on a total weight of the base resin. A method of preparing the polyphenylene sulfide resin composition, and an injection-molded article manufactured using the polyphenylene sulfide resin composition.

A polymer composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer, a polymer additive selected from the group consisting of nucleating agents, clarifying agents, and combinations thereof, and a fluoropolymer. A molded article comprises at least one wall defining a cavity, the wall having an opening therein permitting access to the cavity. The wall comprises a polymer composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a polymer additive selected from the group consisting of nucleating agents, clarifying agents, and combinations thereof, and a fluoropolymer. A method for molding a polymer composition is also provided.

A polymer composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer, a polymer additive selected from the group consisting of nucleating agents, clarifying agents, and combinations thereof, and a fluoropolymer. A molded article comprises at least one wall defining a cavity, the wall having an opening therein permitting access to the cavity. The wall comprises a polymer composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a polymer additive selected from the group consisting of nucleating agents, clarifying agents, and combinations thereof, and a fluoropolymer. A method for molding a polymer composition is also provided.

Unitary measuring pipettes include a tubular body of biaxially oriented thermoplastic material, together with size reduction, elimination, and/or reorientation of longitudinally spaced, raised circumferential witness features, to mitigate or avoid interference between such witness features and graduated volumetric markings on an outside surface of the tubular body. Methods and apparatus for vacuum forming of unitary measuring pipettes are also provided. Gas permeable apertures or pores having a maximum width of no greater than 150 microns, in ranges of 10-100 microns, 10-50 microns, or subranges thereof, may be defined in face plates or inserts received by mold blanks, or defined in molding surface of cooperating mold bodies, and may be used to produce a tubular pipette body having reduced height witness features. Cooperating mold bodies may each be produced from multiple mold body sections with gas passages defined therein and/or therebetween.

Unitary measuring pipettes include a tubular body of biaxially oriented thermoplastic material, together with size reduction, elimination, and/or reorientation of longitudinally spaced, raised circumferential witness features, to mitigate or avoid interference between such witness features and graduated volumetric markings on an outside surface of the tubular body. Methods and apparatus for vacuum forming of unitary measuring pipettes are also provided. Gas permeable apertures or pores having a maximum width of no greater than 150 microns, in ranges of 10-100 microns, 10-50 microns, or subranges thereof, may be defined in face plates or inserts received by mold blanks, or defined in molding surface of cooperating mold bodies, and may be used to produce a tubular pipette body having reduced height witness features. Cooperating mold bodies may each be produced from multiple mold body sections with gas passages defined therein and/or therebetween.

A feedstock configured for use in an extruder in an additive manufacturing system is configured as a braided comingled tow filament. A method of producing the braided comingled tow filament includes providing a bundle of comingled tow material having a fiber count ranging from about 1,000 fibers to about 25,000 fibers having thermoplastic fibers comingled therewith, wherein the tow material in the filament ranges from about 50 to 75 volume percent and the volume percent of the thermoplastic material ranges from about 25 volume percent to about 50 volume percent. The method includes dividing the length of comingled tow material into sections, twisting each section into a strand to form a plurality of strands of twisted tow material, and braiding together the strands.

A feedstock configured for use in an extruder in an additive manufacturing system is configured as a braided comingled tow filament. A method of producing the braided comingled tow filament includes providing a bundle of comingled tow material having a fiber count ranging from about 1,000 fibers to about 25,000 fibers having thermoplastic fibers comingled therewith, wherein the tow material in the filament ranges from about 50 to 75 volume percent and the volume percent of the thermoplastic material ranges from about 25 volume percent to about 50 volume percent. The method includes dividing the length of comingled tow material into sections, twisting each section into a strand to form a plurality of strands of twisted tow material, and braiding together the strands.

A curable resin composition contains a curable resin that comprises at least one non-aromatic epoxy compound, at least one non-aromatic oxetane compound, or a mixture thereof, one or more curing agents selected from Lewis acid:Lewis base complexes, and a cure accelerating amount of one or more anhydride compounds. A method accelerating the cure of a curable resin composition, comprising adding a cure accelerating amount of one or more anhydride compounds to a curable resin composition comprising a curable resin that comprises at least one non-aromatic epoxy compound or non-aromatic oxetane compound and a curing agent that comprises one or more Lewis acid-base complexes. The composition and method are useful in making fiber reinforced resin matrix composite articles.

A curable resin composition contains a curable resin that comprises at least one non-aromatic epoxy compound, at least one non-aromatic oxetane compound, or a mixture thereof, one or more curing agents selected from Lewis acid:Lewis base complexes, and a cure accelerating amount of one or more anhydride compounds. A method accelerating the cure of a curable resin composition, comprising adding a cure accelerating amount of one or more anhydride compounds to a curable resin composition comprising a curable resin that comprises at least one non-aromatic epoxy compound or non-aromatic oxetane compound and a curing agent that comprises one or more Lewis acid-base complexes. The composition and method are useful in making fiber reinforced resin matrix composite articles.